𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 14

"What?" Alia asked with a dumb expression. The situation had not caught up with her yet.

"The bill," Pujita repeated, "the bill is of Fortis; a private hospital, you couldn't have managed to pay for it on your own. So honestly, tell me what happened? Is that really a sprain?" She took two steps forward and keep questioning Alia.

"Ohh," Alia replied looking a bit lost. She looked at her mother with a duh expression. "Are you serious?" She threw the question back. "I told you about the accident, I slipped on the wet floor a shop."

"I know that!" Pujita, frustrated with the situation yelled at her daughter. Alia was trying to make her feel dumb. "Why Fortis and not a public hospital or a dispensary? You and Shivani, both, chose to go to a hospital ten kilometres away from where you were, when there was one only a few minutes away?"

"Mama!" Alia cried out in frustration. "I fell because the floor was wet, extra wet to make a person fall. It was obvious that they; the owners took me to a private hospital to avoid any waiting or escalating the injury any further by delay! They were responsible and they took the responsibility to avoid any court case." She informed or lied to her mother. The thing was, Shivani was ready with back up. She had been texted and explained the current situation and she was ready to back Alia up if needed.

"The owner did? I want to talk to him." Pujita demanded.

"Sure, he will pick up my call at 11pm. Why not?"

"I didn't mean now." Pujita defended her words. "Take you medicines and rest." She sighed and walked out, closing the door behind her.

The moment the door closed, Alia let out a breath of relief and collapsed on the bed. She was ready to sleep it all away.

*******

Alia didn't go to college today. She didn't even get up from the bed which had her mother assuming that her injury was paining. Alia had called Shivani who had agreed to come by later today after college and submit her application for today's leave. The maid was done cleaning the house and had left. She made herself a few mayo sandwiches for breakfast along with some fruit that her mother had cut earlier.

"Hey," she looked up and found Shivani who was already lying down in her bed.

"You could've knocked, you know." Alia commented on seeing her friend sprawled like a starfish on her bed.

"Sure I could but last time you didn't open it due to your laziness." She added back, taking a sandwich from her plate.

"How did you go home yesterday?" She muttered, not having the strength to speak in her normal loud volume.

"Zaigham dropped me," Shivani looked at her, "I found it weird that he was there and said your scooter didn't start so Arman helped you and he came to my rescue." She then added with a thought, "What about the sprain, it real?"

"The hell, bitch? It's real." Alia snapped.

"Sounds suspicious to me," Alia muttered thinking about what Shivani had said, picking up a piece of apple and biting into it. Why was Zaigham being so generous? Wasn't he Arman's friend? Alia couldn't believe what she had tangled herself in.

"I think it is," Shivani said and closed her eyes. Both if them continued to stay in bed, doing nothing.

******